The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip was my first real foldable screen phone. I used it as a daily device for 4-5 months in 2020, because it was different and gave me a new usage experience. I didn't switch to the 5G version and also skipped the Z Flip3 because I was looking forward to something completely new and different.
The presence of Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 makes me want to try again using this device. After a few weeks of using it, it's my favorite device of the year from Samsung. In fact, I'm more comfortable using the Z Flip4 than the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
In this review article I will share why it is my favorite device, the usage experience, is it worth it or not and who exactly is this device suitable for?
Specifications
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 5G
Inner Screen – 6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+
External – 1.9″ Super AMOLED
Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor (4nm)
1x 3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 chip
3x 2.75 GHz Cortex-A710
4x 1.80 GHz Cortex-A510
Adreno 730 Graphics Chip
8GB LPDDR5 RAM
Internal Storage 128/256/512 GB UFS 3.1
Primary Camera 12 Megapixel f/1.8, OIS
12 Megapixel f/2.2
Selfie Camera/Internal Camera 10 Megapixel f/2.4
3300 mAh battery
15W wired charging
10W wireless charging
4.5W reverse charging
SIM/Nano Telephony/5G
NFC Yes
No Audio Jack
IPX8 Waterproof
Scan System Side fingerprint scanner
Sale Price RM4,099 (8/128 GB)
RM4,299 (8/256GB)
RM4,899 (8GB, 1TB)
RM4,599 (Bespoke 8/256 GB)
Screen
This device still uses the same outer and inner screen as the previous Samsung Galaxy Z Flip3. Inside is a 6.7″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen with adaptive 120Hz refresh rate support and can also display HDR10+ content. On the outside is a relatively small 1.9″ Super AMOLED. Rumors of a larger external screen like the RAZR 2022 are not true.
The crease effect on the screen in the device is still clearly visible and when the finger touches the center it can still feel a dent on it. But compared to the Z Flip3 there is indeed a difference and it is a bit flatter. Once you get used to a device like this, the crease effect on it doesn't interfere with daily use at all.
What bothers me is the long display size. The device uses a 22:9 display ratio which is higher than the flagship Sony Xperia device with a 21:9 screen ratio. For me it's a little less comfortable, because the finger often needs to be repositioned to reach the physical buttons on the left side and also to scroll the screen. Even after two weeks of using the Flip4, it still feels awkward in my hand.
The screen quality however is still solid. It has beautiful, bright colors, blacks that are quite dark and all the details are very clear to see. With HDR10+ support, videos on YouTube that support it look very beautiful and provide a satisfying viewing experience.
It's just a shame that as this article is being written, the review unit I'm using still doesn't support HDR10+ on Netflix. A bit disappointing, but on platforms other than YouTube like Prime Video – it's no problem.
The 120Hz refresh rate is also very fast and smooth. I didn't experience inconsistent refresh rates or system crashes at all. Because it is of an adaptive type, it depends on the content as well as the application. There are good applications, some go straight to 60Hz which makes the performance of the device feel like it is getting slower.
Speaking of the screen on the outside of the device, I really don't like it because there isn't much that can be done. It's definitely better than the first Z Flip I used before, but it's so limited that even replying to messages is difficult. I tried to get the most out of it by subscribing to CoverScreen OS third-party apps to access more apps.
But the gesture control for using the camera on this small screen is getting better with more modes accessible and no longer limited. With just a scroll, picture mode can go to video mode or switch between portrait and ultra-wide angle.
Design
Samsung offers a flatter, compact and thinner design than previous models. The device also uses a slightly thinner hinge, to my eyes there seems to be no difference. But inside, the hand of this device feels comfortable, not slippery, and overall feels more solid.
Even though Samsung is still using a dull finish on the surface of the device, the frame of the device is still using a glossy color finish. This makes the device dirty around, but clean on the surface. This smooth finish not only makes the device easy to get dirty, but also easy to scratch.
When the device is opened, it looks like a normal device. On the back, two 12MP cameras can be seen arranged vertically with LED flash lights, then there is a glass panel for the outer screen, and in the middle of the back you can see the change in the thinner hinge design.
On the left side of the device, the physical volume and power buttons along with the fingerprint scanner can be seen. On the right side there is only the SIM card slot, on the top there is only the microphone, on the bottom are two more microphones along with the speaker grill and the USB-C port.
On the front, the surrounding bezel looks very even and pleasing to the eye. The top bezel also has a grille for the earpiece which is also for stereo audio. On the screen, there is a hole in the top center for the selfie camera. The screen of the device is also protected with a plastic screen protector. Samsung is not ready to use the camera under the Fold4 screen on the Flip4 foldable skin.
When closed, the device feels thinner. But the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a smartphone with a foldable screen that forces users to always use the screen in an open state.
With this thinner design, Samsung is still able to fit a larger 3700 mAh battery compared to last year's 3300 mAh. It also comes with the most powerful processing chip for an Android device on the market today, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This compact device is capable of packing great specs and power, again one of the main reasons why it's my favorite device.
Use And Software
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 runs One UI 4.1.1 based on Android 12L. In my opinion this is the best Android operating system I have ever used because it is very friendly with the foldable screen. Many functions and features that benefit the device in this format are smooth to use. Unlike before, everything is Samsung's own development and this time it is directly built into the Android code itself.
One UI 4.1.1 in my opinion provides a better and more complete user experience for the Z Flip4. Edge Panel becomes many times smoother and easier to run two applications at the same time without any problem of time lag and time gap using both applications simultaneously. In fact, I have also used this device to write an article with one application above referencing sources and one application below taking notes.
The newest feature on this device is FlexCam which places the device in an L shape and opens applications that have a camera such as Instagram, Facebook or the camera application itself to control the camera more easily. This mod can also turn the device into a video recorder if that's something you want to do.
Although this device only has 8GB of RAM, the RAM Plus feature is able to add up to 8GB of virtual memory, making the total amount of memory reach 16GB. I did not experience any issues on this device as previously reported that RAM Plus on One UI 4.1 made the device perform slower. Even playing for the first time on this device rarely causes the device to heat up. I realized it only gets hot if I watch a lot of videos.
The experience of playing first on this device is satisfactory, as it has a helpful first mode and can monitor the state of the device. Just playing games on this device for long periods of time gave me an anxiety attack on the screen. It uses thin glass and I'm a tough guy when playing first, when I'm angry I like to press hard and this makes me rarely play first on it.
Bench mark
I have done some benchmark tests on this device to see what this compact device can do. So I did AnTuTu 3D tests, Geekbench 5, and some 3DMark tests. On AnTuTu 3D it got 804,731 points, Geekbench 5 got 1282/3686 points for single core and multi-core, 3DMark Wild Life Extreme got 2049 on the first cycle and that's the highest score and finally on 3Dmark Sling Shot Extreme it received a Maxed Out score! .
In comparison to other devices that use the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, the points obtained by the Z Flip4 seem weak. But remember, these tests are all just numbers and real-world usage experience is more important.
AnTuTu 3D
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: 804,731
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: 980,346
OnePlus 10T: 918,160
ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro: 1,099,5132
Geekbench 5
Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4: 1282/3686
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: 1298/3963
OnePlus 10T: 1040/3485
ASUS ROG Phone 6 Pro: 1312/4191
Telephony and GPS
Although there is 5G support, I do not have a YES SIM card and my area does not have stable access. Even so, the normal data connection seems to be pretty good about the same as my Galaxy S22 Ultra. Phone calls are also clear, bright and satisfactory as I have not experienced any problems. For GPS, the location finder I noticed sometimes took a little longer to lock onto the location – but once it did everything went smoothly.
Camera
The device still uses the same 12MP dual-camera configuration as the Z Flip3. But with the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chip, it is able to make the image result 65% brighter. In our test, it is true that there is still a slight difference in the picture results but for a device that costs more than RM4000 it is a really lame camera system.
I'll start with the in-screen selfie camera, which has a slightly faded color. The portrait mode finish isn't as pretty either, but details can still be preserved well. By using the Cover Screen, the selfie camera is using the main camera - here it looks sharper, the colors are more vivid and the blur effect is neater.
For the main camera, it's not bad or unusable. It's just not to my taste and I wish it could be of better quality. In my test results, I feel that the OnePlus 10T which does not have the best camera is better than the Z Flip4.
What I realized is, the colors produced are quite bright, the details are still able to be preserved well and the focus also looks very good. The picture result on this device looks standard last year's Samsung flagship just with a new chip it's trying to catch my eye.
Battery
The 3700mAh battery used in this device is 300mAh larger than before. With a 6.7-inch screen size supporting a 120Hz refresh rate, I'd honestly say it's a troubling matchup. Then the charging power is only 25W, although an improvement over last year – it is one of the slowest for a flagship device in the market.
After using this device I realized that the extra 300mAh is actually good. Over the course of use, I can get 7-8 hours of SOT for light use and have even once reached up to 9 hours. But it's not consistent because after a week, I often get around 5-6 hours of SOT for light use and around 3-4 hours if I use the camera and play first.
The 25W charging power takes more than 60 minutes for it to fully charge which for me is a shortcoming, while even mid-range devices can support up to 65W or some even reach 120W.
Audio
Most flagship Samsung devices I've used, their audio rarely disappoints. With this device still using a stereo speaker system with Dolby Atmos, it doesn't disappoint either. It's loud, clear and comfortable enough to watch videos and listen to music. It's a little off balance, but not really noticeable.
Conclusion
In the Malaysian market, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is no longer the cheapest device with a foldable screen because the Z Flip3 is still sold at a cheaper price. But it is the most compact and the most powerful version you can get. For me who used the first generation Z Flip, Z Flip4 is a big change that I am satisfied with. But when compared to the Z Flip3, there aren't many noticeable differences really.
Throughout my use, I am satisfied with this device. As I said earlier, this device is my favorite device of the year. Why? The use of this device reminds me of the Pixel device. Very smooth performance like native Android, although One UI is a heavy and cheerful theme. It's fast and makes my work easier, all Google apps are friendly with this device.
If you have RM4,099, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip4 is a good device. It's RM100 more expensive than the previous model launch, but for lifestyle and social media use, for a taste of something different, and wanting features that other devices don't have – this device might be enough for you if the camera isn't a concern. As far as my use, only the camera is disappointing.
Pro
Fast, beautiful and better screen.
IPX8 protection.
A solid, great and satisfying performance.
The design is more compact and comfortable in the hand.
Software that is more friendly to such devices.
Good picture quality and brighter.
Cons
Inconsistent battery life.
A rather slow charging system for a 2022 device.
Repurposed old camera system.
The external screen is still too small to use.
The selling price is still expensive.
